The truth is out: Microsoft dupes consumers into buying Vista-incapable hardware
Everyone had their suspicions as to what Microsoft may or may not have been doing when it released Vista with different stickers like “capable,” and “ready.” Many consumers felt cheated when they purchased hardware that flat out couldn’t handle Vista. Well, the truth has finally surfaced: In the class-action lawsuit brought against Microsoft regarding the labeling system for Vista, the court has released a series of emails between Microsoft execs that show how Microsoft plain deceived customers into buying hardware that couldn’t handle Vista to help Intel and to release Vista earlier than it should have been.
It seems the big dogs over at Microsoft exchanged some fairly clear-cut emails between each other discussing a little dilemma surrounding the release of Vista, that dilemma being: Intel really didn’t believe that Vista would be ready when it was, and as such, did not have a chipset out that was really optimized to handle the needs of the new OS. The chipset that would be available is the Intel 915 chipset, which is completely insufficient to the needs of Vista.So Microsoft was faced with a choice; they could wait until summer to release Vista with an appropriate chipset (the 945 chipset, which was later shown to not really be great for all of Vista’s needs either), or dumb down Vista so it would function on the 915 chipset, but not have any of the perks of the new UI (User Interface).
A quote from one executive:
We are caving to Intel. We worked for the last 18 months to drive the UI experience and we are giving this up.
Some of the emails included in those released to the public document many of the execs at Microsoft saying they were displeased with being pushed around by Intel; because they chose to go ahead with the release in spring, they had to adopt the two-tier platform of “ready” and “capable.”
In the emails it seems fairly clear that, although Microsoft was pushing the two-tier approach to OEMs, none of Microsoft’s executives felt that the lower tier of “capable” would be insufficient to run Vista.Microsoft was also under a lot of pressure to release Vista, as it was already delayed, regardless of the Intel debacle.
Some emails show the folks at Microsoft discussing the pros and cons of delaying till summer as opposed to releasing in spring; the largest drawback listed was that customer dissatisfaction would be high if Vista was again delayed (obviously). As the emails continue past release of Vista, it is made clear that they know how badly the blundered by releasing Vista on the poor chipsets. No doubt they would have lost a lot less by simply waiting to release Vista; everything is 20/20 in retrospect.
Though it isn’t easy to say this is an open and shut case, the emails clearly depict Microsoft’s own uneasiness with releasing Vista on machines known to be incapable of delivering the Vista experience. Now the judge has to decide on how much this expensive charade will cost Microsoft.
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February 29th, 2008
There are two schools of thought to this. While the consumer felt cheated getting a computer that cannot really run Vista. Given Vista’s problems, staying with XP is the smartest move .
March 2nd, 2008
Actually, checking out Linux and dumping OS’es that limit you to a hardware or software company is the best choice. Get a game console.
March 2nd, 2008
“hardware that flat out couldn’t handle Vista”
That’s not really an accurate statement. Hardware that can’t handle the eye-candy stuff is not the same as hardware that can’t run the OS. Vista is still vista even without Aero.
March 2nd, 2008
Is it? Or is it just XP with issues?
March 4th, 2008
i am on my second windows home premium p/c since i bought my first in febuary 07.
i have been given another vista p/c to replace my other from feb 07 as it broke down 2 weeks before the guarantee was due to expire.
i have had 2 acers and two compaqs and now this one an advent after all the others were proven to be faulty,they were all vista p/cs.
and none of them ran as fast as my xp did.
the one i have now wont run msn messenger 8.1 or 8.5 or even the live messenger. ? help.
i still have a really slow pc.yet its a much faster one than i had before.
why is it i cant use it in the same way as my xp.
i replaced the printer/monitor/dvd drives/tv card/webcam/and bought vista compatable everything as none of my other items were able to run before.personally i really hate vista as i find its a nightmare somedays it wont log off and takes a really long time to start up. even the shops i take it to are confused by the issues me and several others he deals with are having at the moment.
personally if i could get my p/c back on xp i would as it was so much better.no wonder that the companies arnt prepaired to change over and to be honest i dont blame them.
give me xp anyday.
also i dont think it was fair the customer had no say as to weather they bought xp or vista.
well i wasnt given a choice in it as i was told there are no more xp pcs about anymore so hence i was pushed into vista without being given a choice in the matter.
when i bought my first vista p/c no one knew much about them,and from what i have gone through recently i thik its still the same everywere still 1 year on.
i and 2 friends are not happy with vista.my other 2 friends had vista put on there p/cs but im told i cant with mine as it has problems with the gaurantee if i do.
someone tell me what to do please as i have spent everything i could on my equipment and i cant do it anymore.
i need to get my p/c running faster like everyone elses i have seen recently.
or am i just a very unlucky person with this vista system.
October 17th, 2008
There are computer repair companies in my city (Cleveland, Ohio) that are offering VISTA- removing services. They will take VISTA off of your rig and install XP with loads of extras.
I’d actually bought a new DELL with VISTA and had so much trouble with the darn thing that I returned it, almost immediately and bought a rebuilt DELL with XP and loads of extras. I bought it from one of those companies. This also helped a local business in this tough economy. The folks at this shop mentioned that VISTA will soon be replaced entirely, according to allegations and trade rumors. I’m glad to be rid of that pig-in-a-poke OS. Couldn’t use any peripherals and even VISTA-ready downloads wouldn’t work AT ALL.